Mobile Connect enables customers to create and manage a digital universal identity via a single log-in. The service securely authenticates users, enabling them to digitally confirm their identity and their credentials and grant safe online access to mobile and digital services such as e-commerce, banking, health and digital entertainment, and e-government, via their mobile phones. It works by employing the user’s unique mobile number, combined with a unique PIN for more secure use cases, to verify and grant online access anywhere they see the Mobile Connect logo. All operators and online service providers using Mobile Connect have signed up to the GSMA Mobile Connect privacy principles.

While initially focused on secure and convenient log-in to digital services, Mobile Connect is evolving to deliver secure authorisation of digital transactions and to add context and attributes about the user and the transaction to increase convenience, trust and security for users and online service providers. This is being trialled in the UK by O2 and Vodafone.